WorldNEW DELHI, AFP -New Delhi was shrouded in a thick blanket of toxic smog Monday after millions of Indians lit firecrackers to mark the Diwali festival, with authorities reporting record levels of pollution in parts of the capital. The levels had subsided through the night but were still running at more than 500 in several districts across the capital by afternoon. People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should stay indoors and keep activity levels low, it added. A new study by the UN's children's fund UNICEF reported Monday that nearly one in seven children around the globe breathes outdoor air at least six times dirtier than international guidelines. “No society can afford to ignore air pollution.

Source: Sunday Times October 31, 2016 11:06 UTC